THE TADAO ANDO ART CENTRE

Tadao Ando conceived the Art Centre for Château La Coste. The building adopts many of the Japanese master’s signature elements to create an extraordinary experience of light and space in nature. A vast infinity pool of water hides an underground car park and provides a spectacular stage for an upper level that is laid out on a V-shaped plan. Flanked by entire elevations of glass, one wing of this ‘V’ houses our welcome desk and bookshop, while the other wing includes a restaurant which overlooks the water and vines.
Tadao Ando’s uniquely smooth concrete walls are marked by a series of conical points and are organised into tatami proportions. His sculptural use of this medium creates strong geometric lines, framed points of view and a variety of reflections throughout the day. The interplay between interior and exterior spaces is seen everywhere in the building and this integration into the landscape is perfectly highlighted by the colonnade that disappears beyond the building into the vines.
“What I tried to do here, because of the presence of Cézanne in Aix, is create new works close to nature.” Tadao Ando says. “I wanted to capture the same, very humble spirit of a Cézanne painting.”

The Art Centre, designed by Tadao Ando, is the welcoming point for visitors. It has an information desk, a café and a bookshop.Summer Period 1st of March – 1st November Open every day from 10am to 7pmWinter Period 2nd of November – 29th of February Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday until 7pm